DAILY MANNA
FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER, 2019
UNCONTROLLED SPEECH
TEXT: NUMBERS 12:9-16
KEY VERSE: “The cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous” (NUMBERS 12:10).
“The boneless tongue, so small and weak, can crush and kill,” declares the Greek. “The tongue can speak a word whose speed,” say the Chinese, “outstrips the steed.” While Arab sages said, “The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.” The sacred writer crowns the whole: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
From the passage under consideration, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses over the issue of his marrying a Cushite or an Ethiopian woman. The Lord summoned the three siblings to the Tabernacle immediately. After a sharp rebuke, God’s judgement fell upon Miriam for her disrespect for Moses. She became leprous, while Aaron was reprimanded but appeared to have escaped unpunished. Miriam looked like the ring leader and the originator of the complaint.
Some people might feel Miriam’s punishment here was severe, compared to her offence. But God who knows the thoughts of men, knew how she deserved to be punished. Miriam, the eldest of the three was used to save Moses when he was but a child at River Nile. She is called a prophetess in Exodus 15:20. That may have made her think she was at the same level with Moses. But in God’s dealings with man, age does not count. Besides, their complaint was tainted with racism against Moses’ wife. Her punishment was just and well deserved.
Making unwise comments about servants of God can incur His wrath and bring about unknown curses to one’s life. We must not join so-called believers who go on the social media to denigrate their leaders. We must treat God’s faithful servants with respect.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The tongue is the ambassador of the heart.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HEBREWS 10–13
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